Actress and former Loose Women panellist Lisa Maxwell says she feared for her health after becoming hooked on Botox.

The 55-year-old had regular injections but has eased up on the treatment as she comes to term with the ageing process.

Lisa, who starred in The Bill and Hollyoaks, said: “I’ve had Botox in the past, I don’t have it so much now just because you try things out and if you are going through an insecure age you will try it.

“But actually, then you become a slave to it so you have to be careful – and then your face stops moving and you start looking a bit weird. It doesn’t work for me.

“It does stop you getting lines but the psychological thing that goes with that is when the lines start to show again they suddenly look massive – and you get even more angst about it.

“I think everybody knows if you’ve had something done. I’m a mother of a 19-year-old daughter and I think it sends out the wrong messages if you worry about that stuff too much.

“There is so much pressure on young women with social media and all these perfect pictures on Instagram that, as a mother, I try to temper that by not freaking out about my own stuff too much. I would hate to be 19 now. We don’t realise the pressure our youngsters are under.”

Lisa Maxwell attends The TRIC Awards 2018 in London (Image: Getty)

Speaking at the TRIC Awards, a TV charity event, she added: “It’s a better lesson to try to accept who you are really if you can.”

Botox jabs cost £150-£350 and are not meant to be given more than once every four months.

Lisa’s comments come after fellow Loose Women panellist Andrea McLean, 49, was mocked last week for having the procedure.

Lisa follows a strict skincare regime using expensive anti-ageing products called DCL – which give the effect of a mild chemical peel. And she never goes out without SPF 25 on her face.

She said: “I spend a bit on skin care. I look after my skin.”

Lisa follows a strict skincare regime (Image: FilmMagic)

Last year Lisa played gran Tracey Donovan on Channel 4’s Hollyoaks. And she insists she doesn’t want to play younger roles.

She went on: “There is pressure on someone of my age to look good as an actress but also there comes a point when you go ‘I’m not going to be playing those parts any more’.

“I liked playing a nan and hopefully I’ll go on to play a gran nan. It’s about mentally surrendering to the fact we are all getting older and getting wiser, even though I’ve never learned from my mistakes. I would say to my 16-year-old self, ‘It will be fine and you will be loved’.”

Lisa quit Loose Women in 2014 after five years. She has remained close friends with the stars and says Coleen Nolan, 53, had a “really tough time” following an angry on-screen clash with TV personality Kim Woodburn, 76.

Coleen suffered a backlash on social media and took three months off. Lisa said: “She seems to have come out the other side. I feel for her. I don’t think anything has happened to anyone on that scale. Some things do get blown out of all proportion.

“That’s the beauty of the show, the ladies are always really honest and open. I had real friendships on the show and genuine chemistry and with that comes honesty and the viewers are party to it.

“Some viewers take offence and some viewers love it. You can’t please all the people.”